Rain slows Kansas City area housing construction

Heavy rains in May washed away a lot of home construction activity in the Kansas City area, but building is still ahead of last year’s pace, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City.

The organization said in its latest monthly report that 392 single-family building permits were issued last month, down 44 from April’s total. However, the 1,715 permits issued in the eight-county area through the first five months of 2015 were still 2 percent more than in the same period a year ago.

“In spite of the fall in permits in May, the continued trend line is toward expansion and growth in activity,” said Sara Corless, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association. Despite rain, worker shortages and rising building costs, she said, builders “continue to be optimistic and buyers are keeping inventory low.”

Kansas City issued the most single-family permits in May, followed by Olathe, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and Lenexa.

The association also said that in contrast to previous years, permit activity in Missouri counties surpassed that in Kansas counties. According to the report, 56 percent of the permits were issued on the Missouri side in May, with most of the growth in Clay County.

The report also noted that 270 permits were issued last month for multifamily construction, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,408.